Many City Residents Say There’s No Excuse for Eric Garner’s Death: Poll

A flyer with a picture of Eric Garner is seen near where he was killed in an encounter with an NYPD officer in July on Aug. 22.

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New Yorkers support the policing of minor crimes, according to a new poll, and say there is no excuse for the death of Eric Garner, an unarmed man who died after being placed in an apparent chokehold by police in July.

The new Quinnipiac University Poll released Wednesday showed that a majority of New York voters, 56%, say issuing summonses or making arrests for low-level offenses, also known as broken windows policing, improves the quality of life in a neighborhood. Thirty-five percent of respondents said the tactic increases tensions between police and community.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday reiterated his support for broken windows, but said the tactic should be carried out uniformly across the city.

“I think it’s clear around the city people want to see enforcement of quality of life crimes,” Mr. de Blasio said at an unrelated news conference. But, he added: “We need fair and equal application of the law.”

Police Commissioner William Bratton said he was “gratified but not surprised” about support for the enforcement of minor crimes in the poll.

“The challenge remains to do it in a way that is both lawful and respectful,” Mr. Bratton added.

The poll comes amid increased scrutiny over broken windows and the policing of black and Latino New Yorkers. Nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers polled—68%—say there is “no excuse” for the actions of police in the death of Mr. Garner, 43.

Video of the July 17 incident shows Mr. Garner protesting arrest for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes before a police officer placed him in an apparent chokehold, a move banned by the NYPD. Just under a quarter of New Yorkers—24%—say the actions of police were “understandable.”

The poll also shows that 64% of New Yorkers support bringing charges in Mr. Garner’s death, while 19% are opposed.

The poll, of 1,021 New York City voters, was conducted from August 20 to August 25, by phone. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1% points.

“The Eric Garner tragedy dominates the news and city voters think there is no excuse for his death,” said Maurice Carroll, assistant director of the poll.

The poll also found that more than two-thirds of voters, 74%, say police brutality is a “very serious problem.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton, who has been critical of broken windows policing and who attended the mayor’s news conference on Wednesday, said, “You can’t treat our community one way and others another way.”

Also Wednesday, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said she and Public Safety Committee Chair Vanessa Gibson plan to hold an oversight hearing on Sept. 8 to learn about the NYPD-wide retraining program on the use of force that is under way. The retraining was announced after the death of Mr. Garner.